Chapter 739

Seeing Wang Zhong and Yan Zheng, Lu Wen was also full of surprise. "General Wang Lao, Physician Yan, I have some urgent matters to discuss with His Majesty, which is why I am entering the palace. Did you two just come out?"

Thinking of what had happened in the Imperial Study, Wang Zhong nodded with a depressed expression. "Don't even mention it. Today, Physician Yan and I were done in by that Living Yama; we nearly ended up with the title of 'Dung Beetle General'!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Wen was instantly filled with shock.

"'Dung Beetle General'? How did that happen?"

At the mention of this, Wang Zhong's expression turned even uglier.

But he was too embarrassed to say that the mutton-fat white jade was bought with his own money, or that Chen Tianfang was actually his trusted subordinate.

So, he made up a random excuse, claiming that Chen Tianfang had exposed himself, and recounted everything that had happened in the Imperial Study.

In the end, Wang Zhong concluded, "That is how it went. Who could have guessed that the Living Yama was prepared in advance and even carried a list on his person?"

"Sigh!"

A single sigh exhausted a wealth of emotions.

"What?"

"Take money but not do the work, take bribes but not pervert the law, and he even prepared a list of those who gave heavy gifts asking him to do things? Is that how this Living Yama conducts himself as an official?"

Hearing this, Lu Wen was shocked. His previously straight back slumped, and his whole body seemed to age by a dozen years.

Lu Wen was stunned; this was something he had never expected.

Wang Zhong also spoke, "Who could have expected it?"

"But please, keep this list confidential, Magistrate Lu. Once the news gets out, the Living Yama will certainly deny it and might even shift the blame onto Physician Yan and me. That man is capable of anything. This time, I'll just have to accept my defeat!"

Lu Wen nodded. "General Wang Lao, rest assured. I, Lu Wen, am not a loose-lipped person."

"I naturally trust Magistrate Lu's integrity. Then, Magistrate Lu, please go ahead and enter the palace to see His Majesty. I won't delay you any further."

Having said this, Wang Zhong walked toward the palace exit.

But no sooner had he taken a step than he noticed Lu Wen had also turned and followed him. This instantly left Wang Zhong and Yan Zheng dumbfounded.

"Magistrate Lu, aren't you entering the palace to see His Majesty about something?"

Wang Zhong looked at Lu Wen in astonishment and asked.

Lu Wen looked at Wang Zhong, then sighed and said, "I did have something, but now I don't."

Hearing this, Wang Zhong and Yan Zheng were first filled with astonishment, and then, their gazes fell simultaneously onto the memorial in Lu Wen's hand.

At this moment, everything was understood without a word.

"Magistrate Lu, how much silver did the gifts in your memorial cost?" Wang Zhong was silent for a moment before asking.

"This was an exposure by someone from the Supreme Court. They gave a heavy gift, costing three thousand taels of silver—roughly my salary for a year without eating or drinking."

"But I'll state this first: this person has absolutely no connection to me, and this silver has nothing to do with my salary. I'm just using it as an analogy!"

Lu Wen spoke decisively, then asked, "General Wang Lao, how much did that Chen Tianfang expose that he gave?"

Wang Zhong took a deep breath. "He gave a piece of top-quality mutton-fat white jade, extremely precious—roughly five thousand taels!"

"That's more than my salary for a year, but I'll also declare in advance that this person and this gift have absolutely no connection to me!"

At this moment, everything was again understood without a word.

Although Wang Zhong hadn't said a word, he had said everything, and his heart was aching so much he could barely breathe.

Pain!

It was too painful!

A person suddenly came to Wang Zhong's mind: Mr. Chen!

In his mind, a line of text floated up inexplicably: *Chen Lang's brilliant plan secures the world, yet he loses his wife and his soldiers. *

What a plan this was. Wang Zhong's five-thousand-tael mutton-fat white jade, plus a trusted subordinate, were all gone. Not only that, he had even apologized to Gao Yang!

This wasn't seeking revenge on Gao Yang; it was clearly delivering warmth to his doorstep.

Thinking of this, Wang Zhong gritted his teeth.

He was furious now and had to find this Mr. Chen to vent!

At this moment, Yan Zheng couldn't help but ask, "Magistrate Lu, if I may be so bold, is this plan to curb corrupt officials, this plan of internal strife, truly from your own heart?"

Hearing this, Wang Zhong also looked at Lu Wen with curiosity.

He was very curious about the answer to this as well.

Taking advantage of their current relationship, he might be able to learn the truth, but he feared Lu Wen wouldn't be willing to say.

Lu Wen faced the two of them, his expression solemn, and even flicked his sleeves with displeasure. "This plan naturally came from my own hand. His Majesty said that from now on, no matter who asks, it must be said that it was my own idea, and it has nothing to do with that Living Yama!"

Facing the two, Lu Wen looked serious, even displeased, and flicked his sleeves, saying, "This plan naturally came from my own hand. His Majesty said that from now on, no matter who asks, I must say it was my own idea, and it has nothing to do with that Living Yama!"